Posted: Mar 11, 2025
MATHER, Calif. – Senior Zia Smith scored a career-best six goals while senior Karly Okamoto and junior Keira Miles netted hat tricks of their own, as St. Francis rolled to a 14-3 win over Granite Bay in the varsity nightcap of a Sierra Foothill League girls' lacrosse doubleheader at Mather Sports Complex Wednesday.
The Troubadours improve to 3-1, both overall and in league play. The Grizzlies remain winless at 0-4 for the year, 0-2 in the SFL.
Smith doubled her goals total with the output, and bested her previous scoring high of four goals, set at Folsom just five days earlier. She also scooped up six draw controls, one more than Miles for the team lead. Jade Abalateo and Olivia Hamm accounted for the remaining two goals and had three caused turnovers apiece, while Okamoto posted six assists.
St. Francis oddly came out to a slow start offensively, although not without opportunities. The Troubies surrendered a goal on the opening draw, then hit just one of their first five attempts with two striking the cage. One such carom did result in a goal, with Smith grabbing the ground ball off an Okamoto pipe shot and returning it into the net in the second minute of the contest. Still, Granite Bay managed to cling to a 2-1 lead after six minutes of action.
Okamoto converted an eight-meter opportunity at 6:22 then assisted Smith from the X with just 8.5 ticks left in the first quarter, but those two scores grew into a 9-0 overall run. Miles hit two goals in the second, sandwiching goals from Okamoto, Smith and Hamm, resulting in an 8-2 lead. That margin grew to eight when Miles completing an eight-meter chance with 7:45 left in the third.
The Troubadours improve to 3-1, both overall and in league play. The Grizzlies remain winless at 0-4 for the year, 0-2 in the SFL.
Smith doubled her goals total with the output, and bested her previous scoring high of four goals, set at Folsom just five days earlier. She also scooped up six draw controls, one more than Miles for the team lead. Jade Abalateo and Olivia Hamm accounted for the remaining two goals and had three caused turnovers apiece, while Okamoto posted six assists.
St. Francis oddly came out to a slow start offensively, although not without opportunities. The Troubies surrendered a goal on the opening draw, then hit just one of their first five attempts with two striking the cage. One such carom did result in a goal, with Smith grabbing the ground ball off an Okamoto pipe shot and returning it into the net in the second minute of the contest. Still, Granite Bay managed to cling to a 2-1 lead after six minutes of action.
Okamoto converted an eight-meter opportunity at 6:22 then assisted Smith from the X with just 8.5 ticks left in the first quarter, but those two scores grew into a 9-0 overall run. Miles hit two goals in the second, sandwiching goals from Okamoto, Smith and Hamm, resulting in an 8-2 lead. That margin grew to eight when Miles completing an eight-meter chance with 7:45 left in the third.
Tessa McClure finished a drive in the 29th minute to end GB's long scoreless drought, but it also represented the last Grizzy goal for the game.
Smith converted assists from Tristan Garcia and Miles before earning the dime on an Okamoto goal, extending St. Francis' edge to 13-3. Abalateo hit the final Troubie goal on a drive from the right hashmark with 1:10 left. Granite Bay managed one final look in the waning seconds, but SF goalkeeper Jayel Miller made the stop and defender Sofia Rabinovitz collected the ensuing ground ball to kill the clock for good.
The varsity win mirrored a tough outing for the Troubie junior varsity, which surrendered nine straight goals throughout the first half en route to a 14-2 loss in Wednesday's opener.
SF managed to hold the Grizzlies scoreless in the third, with reserve goalkeeper Angela Miles making four saves in that span. The Troubies also scored twice in that frame: Delaney McGahan assisting Taylor Crotsley just a minute into the second half, then Lucia Shepard setting up Sadie Tilney's quick stick with 58 seconds left in the third.
However, that Tilney goal ended up as St. Francis' last attempt at the Grizzly net. Ava Russello poured in two goals in a 5-0 Granite Bay fourth to clinch the victory.
The varsity win mirrored a tough outing for the Troubie junior varsity, which surrendered nine straight goals throughout the first half en route to a 14-2 loss in Wednesday's opener.
SF managed to hold the Grizzlies scoreless in the third, with reserve goalkeeper Angela Miles making four saves in that span. The Troubies also scored twice in that frame: Delaney McGahan assisting Taylor Crotsley just a minute into the second half, then Lucia Shepard setting up Sadie Tilney's quick stick with 58 seconds left in the third.
However, that Tilney goal ended up as St. Francis' last attempt at the Grizzly net. Ava Russello poured in two goals in a 5-0 Granite Bay fourth to clinch the victory.
